The Rubin Report

Host: Dave Rubin
Episode: AOC Shocks Press with Reckless ICE Shooting Comments That Will Make Things Much Worse
Date: January 8, 2026

Episode Overview

On this episode of The Rubin Report, Dave Rubin examines the fallout from a deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis—a case sparked by a confrontation between protestors and federal officers that has generated fierce debate and incendiary comments from politicians, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). The show explores the escalating rhetoric around ICE, repercussions in city/state vs. federal government relations, broader political polarization, and briefly pivots to developments in Venezuela and U.S. dietary guidelines. Rubin emphasizes his belief that leftist rhetoric and policies are driving national division and violence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Minneapolis ICE Shooting: Sequence of Events

• Incident Recap: ICE officers conducting operations in Minneapolis were blocked by protestors; a driver (later identified as Renee Goode) allegedly attempted to run over officers using her car. One ICE officer fired, killing her. Some officers were injured but are expected to recover.
  • Department of Homeland Security statement: Framed the event as self-defense amid rising threats against law enforcement (00:59).
• Video Analysis: Multiple videos are circulating. Rubin breaks down footage in real-time, highlighting the critical moment—the ICE agent drawing their weapon only as the car accelerated towards them (05:04–07:40).
  • Rubin: "So the key part of this...is that...the second she started going forward, that's the key...he takes the gun out." (06:33)

2. Political and Media Reaction

Minneapolis Leadership

• Mayor Jacob Frey reacts (08:15):
  • “To ICE: Get the f— out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here... People are being hurt, families are being ripped apart... Now somebody is dead. That's on you.”
  • Rubin’s response: Accuses Frey and other 'sanctuary' politicians of encouraging lawlessness and violating the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause (09:09–12:18):
    • "The very nature of a sanctuary city...is unconstitutional. We have allowed it to happen... these mayors...trying to have their state policy supersede federal policy, which is against the Constitution." (11:08)

State of Minnesota

• Governor Tim Walz (13:25):
  • Announces they're preparing the National Guard against potential ICE action, rejecting use of Minnesota as a "prop in a national political fight."
  • Rubin’s take: Walz is fueling this confrontation to distract from his own alleged involvement in a Somali daycare financial scandal (14:09):
    • "This is a guy in crisis...he needs a crisis so that you don't pay attention to his own fraudulent activities." (14:09)

3. Escalating Rhetoric & Demonization of ICE

• Politicians’ comments compilation (17:30):
  • Dems and progressives liken ICE to the Gestapo or terrorists, e.g., "This is Gestapo like behavior" – Dave Rubin; "ICE is acting like a terrorist force" – Renee Goode (witness).
• Rubin: Links such language to real-world confrontation and violence against ICE agents.
  • "This is all of the people that are analyzing this...But again, this is all of the people that are analyzing this. And this is what everyone does on accident...you got to take into account...how absolutely hostile these people have become." (07:35)

4. AOC’s and Progressive Lawmakers’ Reaction

• AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) on the shooting (19:40):

  • “What we saw today was a criminal murder a woman and shoot her in the head while she was trying to escape and flee for her life...a manifestation of every American's worst nightmare, which is their government turning into a tyranny.”
  • Double down, calling for prosecution/arrest: “I think what we saw was a murder today.”
  • Rubin: Calls her remarks “absolutely evil” and claims they incite further unrest (20:09):
    • “AOC is a very, very evil woman...everything is about the revolution...They want more for the revolution. This is absolutely evil.” (20:09)

• Other Progressives:

  • New York’s mayor refers to it as the “latest horror” from ICE (21:13).
  • Rep. Ro Khanna calls for officer's arrest—Rubin responds directly, “You guys simply take the side of the bad guys all the time. It is deeply disappointing...” (22:12).

5. Rubin’s Argument: Rhetoric Creates Reality

• Scott Jennings (CNN) (30:13): Warns of “an epidemic of political vigilantism,” with protestors feeling emboldened to physically confront ICE.
• Rubin: Echoes and expands, connecting this case to broader political “revolution” culture and previous acts of violence attributed to activist rhetoric.
  • "They have created the condition...They are gonna try to make it seem like this guy was a white supremacist and he was evil and we're all evil for having supported him..." (23:10)
  • Personal reference: Refers to assassination of his friend Charlie Kirk by a trans activist "ginned up by these very same people." (31:25)

6. National Fallout & Protests

• Organized Response: Demonstrations erupt with coordinated signage and chants of "Death to ICE," often interconnected with broader activist causes, e.g., Palestine solidarity (24:47).
  • Rubin: “The fact that the Palestinian flag is there...it's all about the revolution.” (25:13)
• Rubin draws parallels: Claims this is a calculated move to create a new ‘BLM’ style movement (25:35).

7. Media Narratives and Disinformation

• Witness on CNN (27:40):
  • Claims the victim was only reversing to escape when shot.
  • Rubin: Rebuts that the video contradicts this account and accuses media of letting false narratives go unchallenged. (28:17)
• John Miller (CNN) (29:19): Advises officers "get out of the way" of vehicles.
  • Rubin: Dismisses such advice as naive and dangerous in split-second situations. (29:37)

8. Broader Segues: Venezuela & U.S. Domestic Policy

Venezuela Crisis Update (34:50)

• Interview with Secretary of State Marco Rubio:
  • Details a three-step plan: 1) Stabilize Venezuela, 2) Recovery (market reform and civil society), 3) Transition (government change).
    • "We're going to take between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil. We are going to sell it in the market place...That money...will be handled in such a way that we will control how it is dispersed in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people, not corruption, not the regime." – Marco Rubio (35:31)
  • Rubin: Praises Rubio’s clarity and competence (36:42–37:00).

Trump Foreign Policy

• Trump comments: Commends “signal” events (e.g., Maduro capture), reaffirms ‘America-first’ hemispheric doctrine (38:30–40:20).

New Dietary Guidelines

• Announcement: Trump administration and Bobby Kennedy unveil new, “flipped” food pyramid emphasizing whole foods, less processed, less sugar (40:48).
• Bobby Kennedy (42:14):
  • “Today, 50% of the calories that our children eat are ultra processed foods or highly refined carbohydrates. And it's literally poisonous...We now have a science based food pyramid.”
• Rubin: Celebrates return to “common sense” nutrition, links healthy eating with American identity (42:56).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dave Rubin (05:04): “She just steps on the gas...the ICE agent who almost got plowed over...did what he had to do.”
• Mayor Jacob Frey (08:15): "To ICE: Get the f— out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here."
• Dave Rubin (11:08): "The very nature of a sanctuary city...is unconstitutional. We have allowed it to happen."
• AOC (19:40): "What we saw today was a criminal murder a woman...a manifestation of every American's worst nightmare, which is their government turning into a tyranny."
• Rubin (20:09): “AOC is a very, very evil woman…everything is about the revolution. Absolutely evil.”
• Scott Jennings (30:13): "We are undergoing an epidemic of political vigilantism...hundreds of car rammings against ICE agents all over the country."
• Rubin (36:42): "When I tell you this guy [Rubio] was born for the job..."
• Bobby Kennedy (42:14): “50% of the calories that our children eat are ultra processed foods...It's literally poisonous.”
• Rubin (43:02): "It's stuff that we all know...there are so many better ways to think about all of the things as it pertains to your health."

Important Timestamps

• 00:59 – News of the ICE shooting and DHS statement
• 05:04 – Rubin’s breakdown of bodycam video and event sequence
• 08:15 – Mayor Jacob Frey’s statement
• 13:25 – Governor Tim Walz mobilizes National Guard
• 17:30 – Compilation of anti-ICE rhetoric
• 19:40 – AOC’s statements denouncing the shooting
• 30:13 – Scott Jennings on culture of “political vigilantism”
• 34:50 – Marco Rubio explains the Venezuela plan
• 42:14 – Bobby Kennedy on U.S. food pyramid overhaul

Tone & Language

Dave Rubin’s tone throughout is combative, sarcastic, and self-assured, frequently singling out progressive figures as both misguided and dangerous. The language is blunt, irreverent, and at times inflammatory, with frequent mockery of opposing views and liberal politicians.

Summary

This episode dives deeply into the aftermath of a Minneapolis ICE shooting, dissecting raw video, official statements, and rampant political rhetoric, especially from high-profile Democrats like AOC. Rubin frames the incident as a direct result of left-wing agitation and demonization of law enforcement, suggesting their rhetoric instigates violence and undermines the nation’s constitutional order. Subsequent segments tie this local tragedy to national currents: rising vigilantism, “sanctuary” political resistance, possible constitutional crisis, and the readiness of leftist activists to seize such moments for broader revolutionary aims. The episode closes with a swift look at U.S. engagement with Venezuela, a revisioned federal food pyramid, and some light-hearted listener Q&A.

[If you need additional breakdowns, quotes, or more granular timestamps (e.g., protest footage, dietary guidelines, or tangents on U.S. policy), let me know!]